James w



(No Model.)

J. W. KASTER.

` HBN's-NEST.

Y UNITED l STATESy PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. KASTEE, OF HURDLAND, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO JOHN'OHADWIOK, OF SAME PLACE.

HENS NEST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 523,792, dated July 31,18951.y

Application filed July l, 1893. Serial No. 479,347. (No model.) i i lHens; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in theart to make and use the same.

r.l `he invention relates to that class of nests whlch are soconstructed that it will not be possible for anhen while sitting thereonto be disturbed by other hens; and the primary ob- Ject of the inventionis to improve the construction 'of these devices, thereby making themmore durable and efficient, and at the same time reducing their cost.

Other objects, such as safety and comfort to the fowls, arecontemplated, and all will be apparent upon an understanding of theinvention.

To these ends my invention consists of certain improved features ofconstruction and combination and arrangement of parts which will be morefully described hereinafter and finally embodied in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:-

Figure l representsa perspective viewof aA series of my nests showingthe manner of uslng them; Fig. 2 a cross-section of a portion of theseries shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 a detail perspective of the same portion;Figli a detail perspective of one of the nest-boxes detached; Fig. 5 aperspective view of a single nest.

The reference letter ctindicates the exterior box or casing in which thenest-box or nest proper is arranged, and in the first four figures ofthe drawings I have shown a series combined, but it is apparent thatthey could be used independently, as' in. Fig. 5. Referring particularlyto Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4, a indicates the main box, which is formed ot' apair of longitudinal boards a and a2 joined by the short sections b,thus forming a series of independent compartments. The front edge ofeach of these compartments is provided with the Vsemicirc'ular openingsb', through which light and air may pass to the nest within. Arranged inthese compartments are the boxes c, which arevone foreach compartment,and of such diameter that they will fit snugly therein. These boxesareabout two-thirds the depth of the compartments, and this is so formedin order that the nestboxes c may have a vertical 'movement in theirrespective compartments. Each of the boxes c has its. forward edgeformed with the semicircular notches c' formed therein, which areadapted to match with the openings b of the outer boxes or compartmentsa.

d indicates a series ofv lids, which are one for each compartment andwhich are hinged to the box a at its rear edge and adapted to completelycover their respective compartments. The boxes c are suspended from theunder side of these lids by means of the rods e, and these are two innumber and immovably fastened to the nest-boxes c, while they arefastened by a hook and eye connection to the lids d.

Secured to the back of the box a are the vertical posts f. These are ofa number equal to the nests provided and have the longitudinal slots gformed therein. Binding screws g are passed through these slots, and bythis means the posts are secured in place soas to be capable of verticaladjustment, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. `Fixed to theupper end of each of the posts f are the spiral springs h, which arealso secured to 'the top of lids d, thus giving them a tendency to risefrom out of engagement with v.the compartments in box a. Owing to thesesprings h the lids cl and consequently the boxes c are given a normaltendency as shown at the right hand end of Fig. l, viz., the lid halfraisedl and the box raised to the level of box a. This is the positionwhich 'the parts assume when not in use, and when a fowl enters thenest-box c the additional weight causes the spring h to be overcome,thus forcing the box down and closing the lid. In this position theparts remain until the hen desires to leave the nest, whereupon she willattempt to pass out the openings b and c', which will result in amomentary removal of the lweight from the box c, and owing to this, the

lid d and box c will be raised so that the hen can complete herdeparture. By these means it will be seen that it is quite impossiblefor a IOO second hen to disturb the one using the nest, and that the henso employed will be left in perfect comfort and ease. The function ofthe slots g in posts f is to admit the posts to be adjusted at anyheight, thus regulating the tension of springs 7L according to theWeight of the fowl using the nest.

Fig. 5 illustrates a single nest, and this is the same as those of theremaining figures, and therefore needs no additional description. Iprefer to arrange them in series since their construction is thencheaper and they are more convenient to arrange in a chickenhouse, butit will be apparent that they may be used either way without departingfrom my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a hens nest, the combination of a stationary outer box or casing,a nest-box arranged and movable vertically therein, a lid hinged to theupper end of the outer box and adapted to swing to close or open thesame, a rod connected to the underside of the lid and to the nest-box,whereby the said box moves in unison with the lid, and a springconnected to the lid, whereby it is given a normal tendency to rise, thenestbox being adapted to receive the hen and to be depressed by herWeight, thereby closing the lid, sub-

